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| After surviving 70 attacks Geelani vows to protect pundits | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Apr 18: Syed Ali Geelani committed a tactical mistake yesterday. He promised total protection to the pundits on their return to the Valley. Geelani and other separatists have been accusing the former Governor, Jagmohan of engineering and facilitating the exodus. A question arises. If state again `plays foul', how can the elderly leader fulfil his promise?
Geelani's visit to the migrant pundit camp yesterday evoked widespread appreciation. But saner elements expressed surprise over the promise he made to them. "I guarantee your protection", he promised. Can he fulfil it?
People close to Geelani are also surprised. "All actors have to be taken into confidence to ensure protection of the migrants", they suggest.
Syed Ali Geelani calls the shots in contemporary Kashmir. Everybody accepts this. During last summer's agitation, the Chief Minister also sought his help in restoring order. But notwithstanding his increasing influence, Geelani also has limitations.
Geelani had to clarify his stand on strikes when agitated youth sought an explanation from him. They even torched his effigies. At one point of time a group of youth stormed his Hyderpora residence and warned him against calling off the agitation.
Geelani, political circles believe, should have done some home work before making such a `delicate' promise. According to official data, more than 19000 pundits lived in 1992 when militancy was at its peak. Or, to put it plainly, more pundits lived in the Valley at a time when the exodus was just two-year-old. But after Wandhama massacre, the number of resident pundits registered a major decline. And, today when Geelani made the promise only 2785 pundits are living in the Valley. The data furnished by Kashmiri Pundit Sangarash Samithi (KPSS) reflects that the community is more scared today when the officials claim a favourable change in the security scenario.
And last but not the least, according to Geelani's own statements, "the state and its agencies attacked him seventy (70) times but every time Allah saved him"! |
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